If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Savannah Sand Gnats...

On this board we have talked about the Reds wanting to get the high A team back on the east coast. Also we know that the Carolina league wants to expand, with Columbia S.C. being mentioned and Fayetteville N.C. Currently the Gnats are affiliated with the Mets low A club..

Re: Savannah Sand Gnats...

Highly unlikely. Team owners would have to purchase a high-A franchise, move it to Savannah, and then find another city to move their South Atlantic League team to (or sell it to someone in another city).

The idea that the Carolina League is looking to expand is true, but a bit misleading. When and if it happens, owners of the two Carolina League expansion teams would likely have to purchase franchises from two current California League owners and relocate them to the Carolina League. They will not add franchises, just move them from the California League to the Carolina League.

So for this to happen as you are hoping, the Sand Gnats owner would have to buy, say, the Bakersfield franchise. Then he would need to find a new home for the South Atlantic League franchise that he will still own. Lots to happen in concert. Highly, highly unlikely unless you had an owner that was super intent on making it happen and had another city available to take his South Atlantic League franchise. The last part would be the toughest.

Oh, one more thing. It would have to be done in conjunction with another owner doing the same. They could not move one team over from the California League or you would have an odd number of teams and a scheduling disaster. You would have to do it with two teams, and two groups of owners at the same time. As JaxRed said, already having a South Atlantic League franchise in the city makes it about four times more difficult than a city with no existing team and a new ballpark.

Re: Savannah Sand Gnats...

For my Redszone peeps up in the midwest for me this would be a dream scenario as I live here in Savannah, and I know it's a pipe dream. However the Met's affialiate draws horrible, and I have never met a Mets fan here. Realize South Carolina is to Savannah what Northern Kentucky is to Cincinnati, and the 2nd most common state car plate is Ohio.... I'd roughly say 1 in 10 people down here are Ohio transplants or refugees from the cold...

But if this would ever come to pass, my Redszone peeps on the Minor League board can hit me up and I'll buy the beer, we'll go fishing all day on my skiff, and we'll catch the Sand Gnats...

Re: Savannah Sand Gnats...

Being a lifelong Reds fan that grew up in Savannah, I will hate this. I no longer live there. Where were you when I was defending you against avid Braves fans for an entire childhood, Redlegs!

Living in Cincinnati...Savannah is growing right now as Gulf Stream is ramping up for G650 launch, talked to a guy today at lunch and he told me they have a couple hundred planes on back order. Once they receive the airframe certificate they will be rolling the planes out and will need another 1500 people. He mentioned they have to recruit almost all technicians and engineers due to a lack of skills in the area, also the pay is descent, 50k plus for a tech, 80k plus for an engineer starting..

Re: Savannah Sand Gnats...

My son and daughter-in-law live in Savannah and oddly enough, I just got a picture text of them at the ballpark there during tonight's game. My wife and I attended a game there years back when the team was affiliated with the Cardinals. I hate seeing old parks go, I really do. While visiting down there a year ago I made it a point to drive by the park and stroll around. The team was on the road that day but I still wanted to get by there.

19Braves77,

As far as seeing the Giants in the SL, I wouldn't hold my breath. My wife and I drove up to Richmond for the Erie series several weeks back and they have an excellent attendance there. The park is nothing to get excited about but the fans support the team and the organization does and excellent job of promoting the team. We were there for a Saturday night DH and there were @ 8,500 fans in the house. The following day, Sunday, there were @ 6,500 fans there. That's 15K fans for two days for a AA franchise. I'd be surprised to see SF relocate but then again, you never know.

Board Moderators may, at their discretion and judgment, delete and/or edit any messages that violate any of the following guidelines: 1. Explicit references to alleged illegal or unlawful acts. 2. Graphic sexual descriptions. 3. Racial or ethnic slurs. 4. Use of edgy language (including masked profanity). 5. Direct personal attacks, flames, fights, trolling, baiting, name-calling, general nuisance, excessive player criticism or anything along those lines. 6. Posting spam. 7. Each person may have only one user account. It is fine to be critical here - that's what this board is for. But let's not beat a subject or a player to death, please.

Thank you, and most
importantly, enjoy yourselves!

RedsZone.com is a privately owned website and is not affiliated with the Cincinnati Reds or Major League Baseball